Berkley makes trip to Gaza before settler withdrawal

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, Aug. 12, 2005 | 10:40 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., was among the last nonresidents allowed in Gaza this week, before police sealed it off in preparation for Israel's withdrawal of Jewish settlers from the strip next week.

Berkley, and 13 other House Democrats, have been on a weeklong visit to Israel meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials to learn more about the latest events in the persistent conflict in the Middle East.

"I agree with the disengagement," Berkley said. But she added that after actually speaking with the mayors and residents of the settlements in Gaza, she can understand why people oppose leaving.

"It's the biblical land of the Jews, you feel it in your heart, you don't want to give it up," said Berkley, who is Jewish. "These are not strangers living next door to each other. It's very heart-heavy to have to leave the home you've known for 40 years."

She met with settlement residents during her last trip to the Middle East in November. She was there at the same time Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died.

In the series of meetings she has attended since arriving Monday, she said "the disengagement is paramount on everyone's mind."

She is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today. The group will not meet with Palestinian leader Abu Mazin, who will be monitoring the evacuation in Gaza, she said, but they will meet with Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad.

"We are trying to make Mazin (and his government) viable in the eyes of the Palestinian people,"said Berkeley, who is on the House International Relations Committee.

The House passed an amendment Berkley sponsored in July making the Palestinian Authority more accountable for use of money from the United States. Congress will only give money on a quarterly basis if Palestinians work against terrorist and agree to respect the sovereignty and boundaries of its neighbors.

The lawmakers have met with U.S. Army Gen. William Ward, who is in charge of helping the Palestinians rebuild their security forces, she said.

The delegation has already heard from Shimon Peres, Israel's vice premier, about developing the Negev desert and Israel Defense Forces Brig. Gen. Uzi Moskowitz, who is in charge of the military evacuation of Gaza next week.

Israeli Police Cmdr. Uri Bar Lev briefed the lawmakers on what they expect to happen during the evacuation. Police believe that there may be some resistance.

Berkley said about 60 percent of Israel think the disengagement is the right thing to do while 40 percent do not want to give up settlements on the Gaza.

"It really is a paradise," Berkley said. "It's beautiful. I don't think the rest of the world truly understands what Israel is giving up."

The trip allow lawmakers to see firsthand the "schism and the heartbreak" the disengagement is causing the Israeli's, which they can remember when Congress is called on to help Israel and Palestine, Berkley said.

"This is the first time in history a country is giving up land for nothing, there are no promises, no guarantees," she said.

She has learned that some residents will leave peacefully, with groups of neighbors even choosing to relocate together, while 10 percent are likely to resist.

"That's the difficult part," Berkley said.

Berkley will leave on Saturday. The American Israel Education Foundation, a part of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee sponsored the trip for the lawmakers.